Driverless cars have become a reality in California, where state law now allows them to ply the roads. While the technology behind autonomous vehicles isn’t completely mature, these types of vehicles are receiving a lot of attention.
Naturally, many people are concerned about how law enforcement will handle these new vehicles and whether or not they can and will receive traffic tickets. Interestingly, the current laws in California regarding autonomous vehicles suggest that they may be immune from traffic citations.
What does this mean? According to the California Vehicle Code, it is illegal for a vehicle operator to use a handheld device while driving, such as texting or talking on the phone. Autonomous vehicles are engineered and programmed to completely remove the need for a driver, and thus, cannot be in violation of this law. The same also applies for other laws which require that vehicles be driven with “care and caution.”
This does not mean, however, that driverless cars are exempt from all automotive laws. For instance, as with any other vehicle, autonomous vehicles are still subject to DUI legislation and all types of laws pertaining to human drivers. Additionally, the driverless car has to obey all posted laws and speed limits. Furthermore, if the driverless car were to cause any sort of accident or collision, the vehicle’s owner may still be held responsible, just as would any other driver on the road.
The decision to allow driverless cars to be immune from traffic tickets may prove to be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it could help to promote the development of autonomous vehicles, by encouraging more people to invest in the technology. On the other hand, the lack of legal repercussions for violations could mean that driverless cars will be seen as a free-for-all on the streets, making it hard to keep up a semblance of order and safety.
Ultimately, this is an issue that the state of California will have to continue to monitor and assess, as well as new research into autonomous vehicle technology. For now, however, it appears that driverless cars are immune from traffic tickets- a decision that has certain legal and economic implications.
